Auto Racing
NASCAR tweaks qualifying procedures at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Just days after Daytona 500 pole qualifying turned into a debacle, NASCAR tweaked qualifying procedures for its lower series at Daytona International Speedway.
The Xfinity Series and the Camping World Trucks fields will be divided into four groups instead of two for the first round and will last two-and-a-half minutes instead of five. That should force cars to leave pit road instead of playing cat-and-mouse games with competitors.
NASCAR also will stage cars on pit road in a single file before the clock starts. When the cars pull out of line, they must leave pit road.
On Sunday, the Daytona 500 qualifying session was done in knockout rounds for the first time in 57 years. Drivers jockeyed for position on pit road, leading to a traffic jam.
Hamlin, Patrick wreck during Daytona practice
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin wrecked during Daytona 500 practice Wednesday.
Patrick’s No. 10 Chevrolet sustained enough damage that she was forced to switch to a backup car and will have to start at the back of the field in the second of two qualifying races Thursday. Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota was repairable.
Hamlin and Patrick started the pileup by making contact coming out of turn two. Casey Mears, Michael Annett and Jeb Burton also were involved.
Patrick called it “the nature of pack racing” while Hamlin said “you always have to give a little bit extra room in practice.” But neither driver took full blame, with Hamlin calling it a “miscalculation one way or another on one of our parts.”
Golf
Europe selects Clarke as Ryder Cup captain for 2016
VIRGINIA WATER, England – Darren Clarke was selected as the captain of the European team for the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
The European Tour announced its decision Wednesday after a meeting of a five-man selection panel, which included the last three captains – Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul McGinley.
Top-ranked Rory McIlroy and stalwarts of the European team like Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell have backed Clarke, who won the British Open in 2011 and played on four winning teams in the Ryder Cup. He was vice captain in 2010 and ’12.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn also were candidates for the role.
MLB
Arbitration kind to the Rockies, not Rosario
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Colorado Rockies defeated catcher Wilin Rosario in salary arbitration.
Rosario was given a $2.8 million salary instead of his $3.3 million request on Wednesday by Elizabeth Neumeier, Phillip LaPorte and James Oldham, who heard the case a day earlier.
Rosario, who turns 26 on Feb. 23, hit .267 with 13 homers and 54 runs batted in last year, down from .292 with 21 homers and 79 RBIs in 2013. He made $502,000 last year.
Teams lead players 6-3, the most hearings since teams went 8-6 in 2001.
NFL
Fitzgerald the franchise man still in Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS – Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald agreed to a two-year deal that will keep him with Arizona.
General manager Steve Keim made the announcement Wednesday at the NFL’s annual scouting combine without disclosing terms.
The 31-year-old Fitzgerald has been the Cardinals’ top receiver since 2004 and led them to their only Super Bowl appearance. He could now wrap up his career with the only NFL team he’s ever played for.
Associated Press
